Nebraska baseball dominates Oregon, advances to Big Ten Tournament semifinals

With its season on the line, Nebraska baseball (30-27, 15-15) dominated No. 4 Oregon (42-14, 22-8) on Saturday, 7-3. After a 9:03 a.m. first pitch, the Huskers led from the jump and never looked back.

Nebraska advanced to the Big Ten Tournament semifinals with the victory and will face No. 9-seeded Penn State tonight.

Jackson Brockett (3.62 ERA) started on the mound and posted his best outing of the season. The left-hander lasted 6.0 innings for just the second time this year, allowing one run on six hits while striking out four. Left-hander Will Walsh relieved Brockett and gave up two runs in the ninth, but it was too little, too late for the Ducks.

“We’ve been battle-tested all year,” Brockett said postgame. “We’ve gone through a lot of ups and a lot of downs. Super proud of these guys. They always stay in the fight no matter what and you know that they’re always going to be working. They’re never going to fold.”

Nebraska’s offense had no trouble against Oregon starter Grayson Grinsell (2.33 ERA). The Ducks’ ace lasted less than 5.0 innings for the first time this year, allowing six runs on eight hits. Gabe Swansen and Case Sanderson led the way with two RBIs each, while Riley Silva added three hits and an RBI. Seven different Huskers recorded a hit as they racked up 11 as a team.

Here is a recap of the victory:

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Husker bats come out firing

Despite the early first pitch, Nebraska wasted no time jumping all over the Ducks. Swansen woke the crowd up with a jolt in the top of the first.

After Riley Silva led off with a single, Swansen boosted his gaudy numbers at Charles Schwab Field. He blasted a two-out, two-run homer to left, giving the Huskers an early 2-0 advantage. That swing set the tone for the remainder of the day.

Nebraska tacked on another in the top of the second. With one out, Robby Bolin reached thanks to Oregon’s second error of the game. On the next at-bat, Hogan Helligso smacked a double down the right-field line that dropped past a diving fielder and rolled into the corner. Bolin scored from first, extending the Huskers’ lead to 3-0.

Oregon squanders early opportunities

Thanks in part to some wacky circumstances — including spectator interference and batter’s interference calls — Brockett held Oregon to one run through three innings.

After a 1-2-3 opening frame, the Ducks got on the board in the bottom of the second. Anson Aroz doubled to the right-field corner and came home on an RBI single that snuck under Cayden Brumbaugh‘s glove. A batter’s interference call and a strikeout quickly ended the inning, though.

Brockett escaped a jam in the bottom of the third. With one out and runners at the corners, he recorded a 1-6-3 double play to save a run. Jacob Walsh shot a rocket off his bat, but Brockett knocked the ball down and quickly corralled it. He threw to Dylan Carey at second who turned the double play, ending the threat.

“Defense was amazing,” Brockett said. “We field at a really high level so I know even if I give up something, they’re always going to have my back. They’re just great. I love those guys.”

Brockett found a groove in the fourth, holding Oregon to just two hits over the next three frames. His stellar day finally came to an end in the seventh inning. A raucous standing ovation ensued as the senior returned to the dugout.

“It was definitely kind of a surreal moment,” Brockett said of his exit. “Whatever happens, like if this was my last game [or] if not. It was great. I get to be in my hometown and pitch in front of all those fans.”

Let’s do it again. pic.twitter.com/xvF7NAdIZN

— Nebraska Baseball (@HuskerBaseball) May 24, 2025

Nebraska pours it on

The Husker bats kept their momentum rolling in the fourth. After Devin Nunez doubled and Helligso walked, Silva stepped to the plate with two outs. He capitalized, driving an RBI single up the middle to get one run back. Nebraska stranded two in scoring position, however, as Joshua Overbeek struck out.

Grinsell’s day came to an end in the fifth as the Huskers stretched their lead to 6-1. Brumbaugh led off with a single that clipped the first baseman’s glove and Swansen followed with a single to left.

Sanderson made Oregon pay after both runners advanced on a throwing error. The sophomore singled down the right-field line, plating Brumbaugh and Swansen. Grinsell was pulled immediately after, marking his shortest outing of the season. He threw 87 pitches in just four full frames, striking out six but allowing eight hits. Grinsell gave up six runs for only the third time in his career.

Nebraska added an insurance run in the eighth. Bolin led off the frame with a full-count walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt. Overbeek hit an infield single to third and Brumbaugh capitalized with an RBI single to center, extending the lead to 7-1.

Walsh tossed two scoreless frames — and stranded the bases loaded in the eighth — before the Ducks finally broke through in the ninth. Two doubles, a bunt single and a sacrifice fly pulled Oregon within four, 7-3, but Bolin caught a flyout to end the game and send Nebraska to the semifinals.

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